The Detroit Grand Pubahs don't take themselves too seriously. That they could be perceived as a novelty act with the song "Sandwiches" as their big hit doesn't bother them either. Any perception of that kind of wore off three full-length albums ago and they keep on creating. Therefore, Madd Circus comes to us as not your father's Detroit sound, but as a more a gregarious and sometimes campy collection of electronica and funk/R&B.
Tongue-in-cheek verses or no verses at all can only be described in honest and self-deprecating terms. Much of this reminds me of screwing around in the middle-of-the-night in my home studio while just freaking-off on the microphone to any random instrumental track. Witness cut seven's “Much Better.” Over seven minutes of “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah/whatz up, whatz up, whatz up...” over an anonymous electronic outer space noise that begins with an irksome sound akin to when you plug the wrong RCA plug into the right jack on your component system. “Autotragik”, cut two conjures a Kraftwerk track gone “madd.”
“No Hoes In My Studio” is another funny one that makes you wonder “who are these guys?” It isn't much of song, but rather a chant/rant.. I love the satire of “Breakfast In Bed” because it takes me back to the era when cats like Johnny Bristol “Hang On In There, Baby” (1974) and Barry White were crooning about sexual situations, and meant it. “There's no need to get out of bed, cause the buffet is right here (my dear)”, they speak alluringly.
Down the stretch from cuts thirteen to eighteen, the fare becomes an annoying madd circus of sound and randomness, although I really do like the energy of the title track and of “Clone Mobile (1Gets in 9 Get Out).” It reminds me of Dennis Coffey's “Scorpio” in overdrive.
Messrs Paris The Black Fu and “O” are all over the place on this album and exhibit eccentricities far beyond those of mortal entertainers. Their frankness in verses or rhymes - if you will – might take some aback as heard on track twelve's “If its gonna be that kind of party, then I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes!” which features Domgue` & Mitch Marcus. Whoever they are, I couldn't find out anything about them.
The DPGs have a wide, opinionated, varied, scandalous and humorous collection of ideas in their own inimitable Pubah style. I have the feeling that this CD will sell given itse attraction to over-the-top weirdness that we are experiencing in these times, so how about this: a pay-it-safe three lofty, haughty Motor City stars.
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